What we know about the Indiana industrial fire that's forced residents to evacuate

[Mary Wilson]

April 12, 20232:28 PM ET

By Joe Hernandez

A large industrial fire in eastern Indiana has prompted the evacuation of nearby residents, and officials say the blaze could burn for several days.

The fire broke out at a former factory in Richmond, a city of about 35,000 residents 70 miles east of Indianapolis. Richmond sits on the state's border with Ohio.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of people within a half-mile of the site on Tuesday and told others nearby to shelter in place. The response included local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ...

The health effects on people impacted by the fire are unclear

The EPA was monitoring the air quality outside the half-mile evacuation zone to check for harmful particulates and toxic compounds.

At a Wednesday morning news conference, the EPA's Jason Sewell said agency staff were checking for volatile organic compounds that can be released when plastic burns.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/12/1169483846/richmond-indiana-industrial-fire-evacuations

 

[Mary Wilson]

EPA - My Way Trading Warehouse Fire

Site Contact:
Matt Villicana
On-Scene Coordinator
(villicana.matthew@epa.gov)

Site Location:
308 NW F Street
Richmond, IN 47374
response.epa.gov/MyWayTradingWarehouse

April 12, 2023, Site Update 12 p.m.
EPA’s air monitoring has detected particulate matter, as expected during a fire. The agency is also monitoring the air for products of combustion expected from a plastics fire including:

• particulates
• carbon monoxide
• volatile organic compounds
• benzene
• chlorine
• hydrogen cyanide
• mineral acids (H2SO4 and HCl)

EPA will continue 24-hour air monitoring at the response. Monitoring takes place at the ground level. During the fire, smoke rises with the heat. Once the fire cools down, EPA anticipates seeing more smoke at ground level.
EPA has also started air sampling at different locations in the community. Sample results are anticipated in the next days or weeks, depending on laboratory analysis.
The agency started collecting debris samples in the surrounding community to determine whether asbestos-containing materials may have left the site. Asbestos-containing materials may be present due to the age of the building. EPA reminds residents to leave any debris alone and not touch it until EPA sample results are back. Do not mow over the debris. Once officials determine the nature of debris, new information will be shared.
Five on-scene coordinators from EPA are on site to assist with the response at the request of the Richmond Fire Department and Indiana Department of Environmental Management. EPA continues to work closely with local and state responders that include: Richmond Fire Department, several local fire departments, Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, IDEM, Indiana State Fire Marshall, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Indiana State Police and Wayne County Health Department.
April 12, 2023, Site Update 9 a.m.
Overnight, EPA began air monitoring around the site at 15 mobile monitoring locations. EPA continues to assist local and state agencies responding to the fire at the My Way trading warehouse. The fire department remains the lead agency for the response. Today, in addition to air monitoring, EPA will collect debris samples in the surrounding community to determine whether asbestos-containing materials may have left the site. Residents are asked to leave any debris alone and not touch it until EPA sample results are back. Do not mow over the debris. Once officials determine the nature of debris, new information will be shared.
The fire department said the fire is under control but continues to actively burn or smolder. At this point, the fire department is trying to contain the fire and anticipates the fire will continue to burn for several days. ...

https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=16003

 

[Mary Wilson]

CITY OF RICHMOND

Updated 4/12/2023 12:20 p.m.‍

Warehouse Fire Information

April 12, 2023

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MY WAY TRADING WAREHOUSE FIRE

Background

On Tuesday, April 11, around 2:30 p.m. EDT, two warehouses containing large amounts of chipped, shredded, and bulk recycled plastic caught fire in Richmond, Indiana. The Richmond Fire Department received the call at 2:40 p.m. and was quickly dispatched. Despite high winds, the Fire Department managed to contain the fire within the warehouse complex and not into the surrounding residential neighborhood. The Richmond Fire Department is the lead agency for the response.

The site was previously a business that collected and packaged recyclables for reselling. Plastics were stored inside and outside the buildings. The business owner has previously been cited by the Unsafe Building Commission for various violations

Wednesday Morning Press Conference (video)

https://www.richmondindiana.gov/news/warehouse-fire-information

 

[Mary Wilson]

Richmond & Wayne County, Indiana News

https://waynecounty.info
___________________
Article:

Richmond fire completely extinguished; residents still need to take precautions

ZACH PIATT Richmond Palladium-Item
3 hours ago

RICHMOND, Ind. — Just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Richmond Fire Department (RFD) Chief Tim Brown was “happy to say” the My Way Trading fire was at least 90 percent extinguished and expected 98-99 percent of it to be out by that night or Friday morning at the latest.

At approximately 8:45 p.m. Thursday, RFD completely extinguished the fire.

The half-mile evacuation zone and shelter-in-place order are still in effect, and there is still no timetable for when residents can return to their homes.

Wayne County Health Department Director Christine Stinson stressed that if you see or smell smoke, you should stay inside, close doors and windows, turn off HVAC units and limit outdoor activities. If you need to be outside, you should wear a mask; the health department has free N95 masks for community members. ...

They (EPA) also detected volatile organic compounds in the air at the fire site. These are chemicals found in gasoline, cleaners, polishes and other common products, but they are dangerous to inhale. EPA Representative Jason Sewell emphasized that those chemicals were only found in the air at the fire site, not outside the half-mile evacuation zone. ...

Another concern of EPA is debris that’s being found in areas downwind of the original black smoke plume. One of those pieces of debris tested positive for chrysotile asbestos. If you find debris in your yard, Sewell said the “worst thing you can do” is mow over it, which would break it up and send the materials airborne. He said you should leave it alone until EPA releases instructions on outdoor cleanup.

https://www.pal-item.com/story/news/...=snd-autopilot

 

[Mary Wilson]

Richmond fire impacts: ‘If you’re seeing smoke…you’re in that plume’

Posted: Apr 13, 2023 / 02:17 PM EDT
Updated: Apr 13, 2023 / 04:09 PM EDT
by: KaJeza Hawkins, Carlos Mathis

... Sanitation Impact

Director of Richmond Sanitary District Pat Smoker says some water may have made its way into the sanitary plant, but nothing impactful has been shown when testing. Normal percentages in the testing range has been shown; no abnormalities in the water have been shown.

When the officials tested the water, they said they did not find any fish or wildlife deaths.

The sanitation department will reportedly be determining on how to handle the runoff.

... Residents on the Ohio side of the Miami Valley have been able to see and experience the smoke dozens of miles away from the initial site.

https://www.wkbn.com/news/ohio/richmond-officials-provide-another-update-following-massive-fire/